The lawyer representing former Italian refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi has publicly defended his client, who is under investigation by prosecutors in Milan. Rocchi, who recently stepped aside from his role, has been summoned for questioning on April 30, according to reports from Mediaset's program 'Pressing'.
Rocchi's legal representative, Antonio D'Avirro, stated that his client is demoralized and feels victimized by what he considers unfounded accusations. D'Avirro claimed Rocchi has always acted with loyalty and transparency and is troubled by the serious nature of the allegations. The precise details of the investigation have not been officially disclosed, but the case appears to involve allegations of a collective nature.
In his television remarks, D'Avirro sought to distinguish the current situation from the infamous 'Calciopoli' scandal that rocked Italian football in 2006. He emphasized that the present case involves only "two or three" people, whereas Calciopoli implicated hundreds of individuals and around ten clubs. The lawyer noted that the official notice of investigation, known as an 'avviso di garanzia,' currently mentions only Rocchi, though the alleged offense is considered a multi-person crime, implying others may be involved.
The legal team is currently evaluating its defensive strategy ahead of Thursday's procedural steps. D'Avirro expressed confidence, stating, "We will know how to defend ourselves well," but remained non-committal about whether Rocchi would return to his position overseeing referees. Rocchi, a former Serie A referee who took charge of the 2017 Coppa Italia final and the 2018 UEFA Super Cup, was appointed as the head of Italy's referees' association (the CAN) in 2021.
This development occurs during a sensitive period for Italian football governance, which has worked to rebuild its reputation following past controversies. The outcome of the investigation could impact the administrative structure of refereeing in Serie A. For now, the process remains in its preliminary stages, with Rocchi's defense firmly rejecting the accusations as the legal proceedings begin to unfold.
